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*The INJURY UPDATE is a publication of the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
This and other IPS information may be obtained from the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department
of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, 405-271-3430 or 1-800-522-0204 (in Oklahoma).
IPS publications are also available at http://ips.health.ok.gov
March 23, 2012
Firearm-related Deaths in Oklahoma
Worldwide, violence claims more than 1.6 million lives each year. In the United States (U.S.), approximately
51,000 persons die each year as a result of violence. More than half (58%) of these violent deaths in the U.S.
are due to firearms. Firearms claim the lives of about 3 persons every hour. In addition to the human and
social burden, firearm injuries cost $27.7 billion per year in the U.S. From 2004-2008, there were 153,976
firearm-related deaths among U.S. residents (10.1 per 100,000 population). Suicide accounted for the
majority (56%) of these deaths and homicide accounted for 40%. Firearm-related deaths that were
unintentional or of undetermined intent accounted for the remaining 4%. Suicide by firearm and homicide by
firearm were respectively the fourth and fifth leading causes of injury death in the U.S. between 2004 and
2008. However, for persons 15-24 years of age, homicide by firearm was the second leading cause of injury
death after motor vehicle crashes, and for youth 10-19 years of age, homicide by firearm and suicide by
firearm were respectively the second and fifth leading causes of injury death.
In Oklahoma, firearm-related death was the third leading cause of injury death from 2004-2008. During the
same time period, firearm deaths accounted for 55,651 (6%) years of potential life lost before the age of 65.
The Injury Prevention Service collects data on all firearm-related deaths as part of the National Violent
Death Reporting System of Oklahoma (NVDRS-OK). NVDRS-OK data are collected from death
certificates, medical examiner reports and police reports. Data from 2004-2008 were analyzed to assess the
characteristics of firearm-related deaths resulting from homicide, suicide, unintentional injury and
undetermined intent. Firearm-related deaths from legal intervention (i.e., person killed by a police officer or
peace officer acting in the line of duty) were excluded from the analysis.
There were 2,296 firearm-related deaths in Oklahoma
during 2004-2008. Eighty-three percent of firearm victims
were male and 17% were female. The mean age of victims
was 43 years. Victims ranged in age from 1 year to 101
years. The overall rate of firearm death was 12.7 per
100,000 population, and the rate of firearm death among
males was more than 5 times the rate among females (21.7
and 4.2, respectively). The rate of firearm death was
highest among males 75 years of age and older (43.9) and
males 25-34 years of age (29.3) (Figure 1). The rate of
firearm-related death among blacks (21.1) was 1.8 times
the rate among whites (11.8) and nearly twice the rate
among Native Americans (10.6). Blacks 15-44 years of age
had the highest rate of firearm death (39.2), followed by
Hispanics 15-24 years of age (21.9), Native Americans 25-
34 years (21.7) and whites 75-84 years (20.7) (Table 1).
1.2 1.6
25.3
29.3
25.9 25.3
23.2
27.7
44.3
42.4
0.3 0.9
3.9
5.9 6.0 6.6 5.7
3.1 2.5 1.8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
0-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
Male Female Both genders
Rate per 100,000 Population
Figure 1. Firearm Death Rates By Age and Gender,
Oklahoma, 2004-2008

*The INJURY UPDATE is a publication of the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
This and other IPS information may be obtained from the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department
of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, 405-271-3430 or 1-800-522-0204 (in Oklahoma).
IPS publications are also available at http://ips.health.ok.gov
March 23, 2012
Firearm-related Deaths in Oklahoma
Worldwide, violence claims more than 1.6 million lives each year. In the United States (U.S.), approximately
51,000 persons die each year as a result of violence. More than half (58%) of these violent deaths in the U.S.
are due to firearms. Firearms claim the lives of about 3 persons every hour. In addition to the human and
social burden, firearm injuries cost $27.7 billion per year in the U.S. From 2004-2008, there were 153,976
firearm-related deaths among U.S. residents (10.1 per 100,000 population). Suicide accounted for the
majority (56%) of these deaths and homicide accounted for 40%. Firearm-related deaths that were
unintentional or of undetermined intent accounted for the remaining 4%. Suicide by firearm and homicide by
firearm were respectively the fourth and fifth leading causes of injury death in the U.S. between 2004 and
2008. However, for persons 15-24 years of age, homicide by firearm was the second leading cause of injury
death after motor vehicle crashes, and for youth 10-19 years of age, homicide by firearm and suicide by
firearm were respectively the second and fifth leading causes of injury death.
In Oklahoma, firearm-related death was the third leading cause of injury death from 2004-2008. During the
same time period, firearm deaths accounted for 55,651 (6%) years of potential life lost before the age of 65.
The Injury Prevention Service collects data on all firearm-related deaths as part of the National Violent
Death Reporting System of Oklahoma (NVDRS-OK). NVDRS-OK data are collected from death
certificates, medical examiner reports and police reports. Data from 2004-2008 were analyzed to assess the
characteristics of firearm-related deaths resulting from homicide, suicide, unintentional injury and
undetermined intent. Firearm-related deaths from legal intervention (i.e., person killed by a police officer or
peace officer acting in the line of duty) were excluded from the analysis.
There were 2,296 firearm-related deaths in Oklahoma
during 2004-2008. Eighty-three percent of firearm victims
were male and 17% were female. The mean age of victims
was 43 years. Victims ranged in age from 1 year to 101
years. The overall rate of firearm death was 12.7 per
100,000 population, and the rate of firearm death among
males was more than 5 times the rate among females (21.7
and 4.2, respectively). The rate of firearm death was
highest among males 75 years of age and older (43.9) and
males 25-34 years of age (29.3) (Figure 1). The rate of
firearm-related death among blacks (21.1) was 1.8 times
the rate among whites (11.8) and nearly twice the rate
among Native Americans (10.6). Blacks 15-44 years of age
had the highest rate of firearm death (39.2), followed by
Hispanics 15-24 years of age (21.9), Native Americans 25-
34 years (21.7) and whites 75-84 years (20.7) (Table 1).
1.2 1.6
25.3
29.3
25.9 25.3
23.2
27.7
44.3
42.4
0.3 0.9
3.9
5.9 6.0 6.6 5.7
3.1 2.5 1.8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
0-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
Male Female Both genders
Rate per 100,000 Population
Figure 1. Firearm Death Rates By Age and Gender,
Oklahoma, 2004-2008